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See the AARTH Calendar for upcoming programs
"One out of five..." that's
the latest CDC estimate of how many people living with HIV in the US are unaware
of their status. Stigma around HIV remains a barrier for HIV testing. NHTD is an
opportunity to reduce HIV stigma and promote testing. This observance promotes
HIV testing and encourages public engagement in addressing the impact of the
domestic epidemic. There is no room for complacency; the fight against HIV in
the US is far from over.
Please also feel free to visit our blog in June: http://blog.aids.gov/ Our posts
will highlight several HIV testing campaigns. We also welcome stories (via blog
comments) about what getting an HIV test means to you, your families, or
community. We hope you can encourage your members and partners to add their
stories, too.
Religious
Coalition for Reproductive Choice - Pro-Faith ~ Pro-Family ~ Pro-Choice
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice brings the moral power of
religious communities to ensure reproductive choice through education and
advocacy. The Coalition seeks to give clear voice to the reproductive issues of
people of color, those living in poverty, and other underserved populations.
RCRC was founded in 1973 to safeguard the newly won constitutional right to
abortion. The Coalition founders were clergy and lay leaders from mainstream
religions. The
founders believed that there would be at most a ten-year struggle to secure the
right to choose. In fact the struggle is far from over.
While our member organizations are religiously and theologically diverse, they
are unified in the commitment to preserve reproductive choice as a basic part of
religious liberty.
Our rational, healing perspective looks beyond the bitter abortion debate to
seek solutions to pressing problems such as unintended pregnancy, the spread of
HIV/AIDS, inadequate health care and health insurance, and the severe reduction
in reproductive health care services. We support access to sex education, family
planning and contraception, affordable child care and health care, and adoption
services as well as safe, legal, abortion services, regardless of income. We
work for public policies that ensure the medical, economic, and educational
resources necessary for healthy families and communities that are equipped to
nurture children in peace and love.
We have developed a game, posters, and flyers to support the new menu
labeling regulation in King County. We hope to make it easier for people to use
the nutrition information now available in chain restaurants. to preview the
materials you can access them on our
website.
Go to our Training for Congregations
page to learn more.
Click here for a
poster.
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In January
2009, the
Seattle Ryan
White Part A
Program (a
program of
Public Health)
launched a
campaign to
improve
knowledge of CD4
and Viral Load
test results
among people
with HIV in King
County.
"What's Your
Score?" is an
attempt to
address an issue
that emerged
from the 2007
HIV/AIDS
Planning Council
Needs Assessment
data in which a
low percentage
of respondents,
especially
people of color,
knew their most
recent CD4 and
viral load
results.
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National Action Network (NAN) has launched a five-year "I
Choose Life" campaign, in partnership with social, civic, civil
rights organizations and the medical community that will address
five major interrelated health concerns and disparities facing
the African American community: diabetes, heart disease and high
blood pressure (hypertension), HIV/AIDS and STDs, mental health,
and obesity. NAN has developed a vital, inclusive and workable
cooperative project between the African American community and a
network of health providers, advocates, activists, community
leaders and organizations, clergy, celebrities, governmental
allies, persons directly affected, as well as those vulnerable.
Visit the website at
www.ichoose-life.com.
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Public Service Message: "I GOT TESTED";;
Join AARTH Ministry and these African American faith
community leaders who commit to their congregations to stop the spread
of HIV/AIDS with the message, “I got tested.” Click
here to view a 30 second Public Service
Announcement urging all Americans to get tested for HIV.
- Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, The Abyssinian Baptist
Church, NY, NY
- Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter’s House, Dallas, TX
- Rev. Dr. Renee Washington Gardner, Memorial Baptist
Church, NY, NY
- Rev. Lora Hargrove-Chapman, Mt. Calvary Baptist
Church, Rockville, MD
- Rev. Edwin C. Sanders, II, Metropolitan
Interdenominational Church, Nashville, TN.
Spread the word about the importance of HIV testing by
showing this PSA at your meetings and conferences or by posting it on your
Web site.
May 2, Saturday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kidney Health Fest for African American Families: Healthy Living on a Shoestring
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WHERE: African American Academy 8311 Beacon Ave. S.,
Seattle 98118
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FREE: Admission ~ Educational Programs Health Screenings
~ Food Samples
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SEE: KING 5 TV’s Jesse Jones and other local celebrities,
celebrity chefs
-
Entertainment Kids’ Korner
Poster. Exhibitor registration.
AARTH team put on their walking shoes at Lifelong AIDS Alliance 2007 Annual AIDS
Walk in memory of Reginald Diggs
2008 Our Church Lights The Way
The Black Church HIV Testing Campaign
Put a spotlight on HIV testing! Join AARTH
Ministry as we participate in the Balm in Gilead's 9th Annual Our Church Lights
the Way: The Black Church HIV Testing Campaign. AARTH asks every African
American church in King County to let the light shine by promoting HIV testing
in their congregations and communities.
In 2007, The Balm In Gilead experienced a 300% increase in the
number of faith-based institutions registered to participate in the Our Church
Lights The Way Campaign. Thousands of people across the nation were tested
during the month of June. This year, the Balm in Gilead's goal is to have 10,000
people tested for HIV during events hosted by African American faith
institutions.
This campaign is a partnership between The Balm In Gilead™ and The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enlist the faith leadership to encourage
the African American community to get tested for HIV and to know their status.
The CDC estimates that 1 out of every 4 people who are HIV positive does not
know that he/she is HIV positive. That's 25% of all people in the United States
who are unaware of their HIV status.
Register today in local campaign activities by contacting AARTH Ministry at
206-850-2070. The following providers are available to bring HIV testing
services to churches in the King County area: People of Color Against AIDS
Network (POCAAN) 206-322-7061; Project Handle 206-461-4522; Public Health
Seattle King County 206-205-7837.
To register for the national campaign contact www.balmingilead.org the Our
Church Lights the Way: The Black Church HIV Testing Campaign and participate in
one or more of the following:
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Encourage every member of your congregation
and the community to get tested during worship, bible study, meeting,
rehearsals, and outreach efforts throughout the month of June;
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Host a testing event at your church. Partner
with your local health department, AIDS service organization, and other
organizations to provide testing at your church;
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Lead the congregation and the community in
HIV testing, and knowing their status.
The Balm In Gilead is available to assist you in
lighting the way. Call today, for your free, updated toolkit and promotional
materials 804-644-BALM (2256) or download it at www.balmingilead.org.
Heart Truth Campaign for African American Women
AARTH Ministry is partnering with the American Heart
Association/American Stroke Association to help increase awareness among African
Americans (women in particular) about heart disease risks, stroke prevention and
maintaining a healthy heart. Heart related conditions, such as high blood
pressure, cholesterol, obesity, and stroke represent the highest causes of
illnesses and deaths among African Americans. You can help change this in your
congregation by joining us in sponsoring the Heart Truth Campaign in your
congregations.
Receive Heart Truth Campaign materials online.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Remember the "3" steps STR
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the
lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain
damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple
questions:
S Ask the individual to SMILE.
T Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE
SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999/911 immediately
and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
Washingtonians will save up to
60% on their prescription drugs
OLYMPIA – Governor Chris Gregoire introduced a new,
state-sponsored prescription drug discount card that will save Washingtonians an
average of 20% on brand-name drugs and 60% on generic drugs. The card will be
available to all Washington residents, regardless of age or income.
“We want to get the news out to everyone in the state who is struggling with
high prescription drug costs,” said Governor Gregoire. “There is help. Even if
you don’t qualify for other discount programs, this card will save you money on
prescription drugs.”
The Washington Prescription Drug Program card is available now. Enrollment forms
are available on-line at www.rx.wa.gov or by calling 1-800-913-4146.
 Are
you in the health care profession?
Do you need your HIV/AIDS certification Training?
AARTH
Ministries
provides certification training on HIV/AIDS
for public and private agencies as well as individuals. We use the KNOW HIV
Prevention Education. Click
here for a brochure.
Women's Health Assessment Toolkit--get health statistics about women and
girls!
Join us. Be the generation
that ends AIDS
¡Únete! Juntos
podemos ser la generación que detendrá la epidemia del SIDA
Help Find Out How We Can Stay Healthy!
Doctors cannot always explain why one person gets cancer and
another does not. Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have
studied patterns of cancer to learn about "risk factors" — things in our lives
that may increase our chances (or risk) of developing cancer. Risk factors may
include a person's weight, the amount of exercise they usually get or the type
of foods they eat.
To better understand how foods relate to cancer risk, scientists at the
Hutchinson Center want to study the biological markers (biomarkers) of foods
that people eat.
The Hutch will test 88 men and women between 18 and 45 years old and will give
you all your food to eat and drink (except water) for two 28-day feeding
periods.
You will benefit from this study by receiving a nutrient analysis of your usual
food intake and the results of the DEXA scan at the end of the study. You will
also be helping us in our research on cancer prevention. This research may
benefit society in the future by developing recommendations about diets that may
prevent cancer.
After you complete the entire study, you will receive $750. Because of the
study's design, you must complete both feeding periods before receiving payment.
For complete information click
here.
PROSTATE CANCER WORKSHOP FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN: Let's Talk
About It!
We can bring our presentation to your men's group in King County
The Let's Talk About It!" Prostate Cancer Education Program is for African
American men to give them information about prostate cancer. African American
men have the highest rates of prostate cancer in the country. One out of
every four African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the
time they reach age 60. This is a curable disease but early detection is
essential. In the early stages of the disease, there are often no symptoms.
This is a free program. Valuable, updated information about prostate cancer and
treatments will be available at these 2 hr workshops. We are also looking
for women's groups to form to help with outreach to men.
For more information: please contact: Kevin Henry, 206 954-8024 or at
reigningman@aol.com. Email: cmch@cschc.org,
http://www.multi-culturalhealth.org, 206-461-6910
Founded by 100 Black Men, this program is sponsored by the Center for
MultiCultural Health Promoting Health and Well-Being in Diverse Cultures
TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World
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Pernessa C. Seele,
the founder of The Balm in Gilead, has received one of America's highest recognitions. We are
grateful for her extraordinary vision, dedication, leadership and hard work in
all that she does for the people of the world.
Please read
what Time Magazine has to say about the Founder/CEO. |
WHY AARTH?
African Americans have the highest health disparities of all ethnic
groups. For a summary from the CDC,
click here. Leading causes of death in the US for African
Americans include cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
One of the fastest growing diseases affecting this population is HIV/AIDS. AARTH places special emphasis on educating people of African descent
about the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the family and society.
Seattle
Times Reports:
Black Churches Unite to Raise
HIV/AIDS Awareness
The Seattle Times
reported on AARTH and the Faith Community Covenant. See the
article.
HIV/AIDS
Church Outreach: Faith Community Covenant
On
March 2, 2006, pastors
in the Seattle area signed the
HIV/AIDS Church Outreach: Faith
Community Covenant
Rev. Carl Livingston,
Jr, Grace United Methodist; Rev. Dr. Amos Landry, Peoples Institutional
Baptist Church; Rev. Gwendolyn Hall,
Sojourner Truth Ministries; Rev.
Gwendolyn Coates, God Answers Prayer
Ministries; Rev. Robert L. Manaway, Sr.,
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church;
Rev. Herbert J. Carey, Martin Luther
King, Jr. Memorial Baptist Church; Rev.
Carey G. Anderson, First A.M.E.
Church; Rev. Zachary K. Bruce, Sr.,
Freedom Church of Seattle; Rev. Reginald
Diggs, Sanctuary Ministries; Rev. Mary
Diggs-Hobson, African Americans Reach
and
Teach Health Ministry
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TELLING MOM
was one of the hardest things Reginald Diggs ever had to do. He was infected
with HIV. He'd been living on the "down low," having sex with other men against
the teachings of his church and his mom, his life-long comfort and strength. Would she
still love him?
Sex,
spirituality and secrecy are a tangle for men on the "down low," and one of the
reasons (along with poverty, drug use, incarceration and poor access to health
care) for soaring HIV-infection rates among African Americans. Consider:
• African
Americans are 12 percent of the U.S. population, but about half of the million
people infected with HIV.
• In King
County, blacks are 5 percent of the population but 22 percent of the HIV cases.
•
African-American men are infected with HIV at seven times the rate of white men;
African-American women at 19 times the rate of white women. In both cases,
transmission is mostly through sex with men.
By
coincidence (she'd call it divine intervention), Reginald's mother, Mary
Diggs-Hobson, had...
entire story
Contact us for more info
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